PHOENIX – This week, Nicholas Cooper, 32, of Hotevilla, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Cooper, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, had previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.

Because he had previously been convicted of a felony, Cooper was prohibited from possessing firearms. In December 2014 and January 2015, Cooper possessed two firearms in violation of this prohibition. One of the firearms he possessed had been stolen from another enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency). The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels, District of Arizona, Phoenix.